There for You’s Winter Fuel Grant launches on 4 December 2017 and runs until the closing date of 16 February 2018

One-off grants may be payable up to £50 per eligible household. Applications without a membership number and the relevant documentation attached will not be processed. Applicants must have paid a minimum of 4 weeks subscriptions before 4 December 2017 to apply.

An application form and survey can be downloaded from the UNISON UK website and will be available from branches and via UNISON DIRECT. Members must complete the application form and survey.

To be considered for a grant, you must be able to show that you meet the following criteria:

Either
i. You are in receipt of housing benefit
Or
ii. Your household net income is less than £18,000. See the form for the full criteria.

Priority will be given to those who have not previously received this grant and no grants will be paid out until after the closing date of 16 February 2018.

There is a limited amount in the Winter Fuel Grants programme and once it has been exhausted no further awards for the year can be made. However if you are facing unforeseen hardship it may be possible for you to apply to our general grants programme. We will let you know if this applies to you.

To let you know that the 2019 UNISON Dumfries and Galloway Branch AGM will take place on the 27th February in the Cairndale Hotel, Dumfries at 5pm.We are seeking, nominations for Branch Officers and Stewards posts and Branch motions. The relevant forms are available from the Branch office or website. Motions should be received by the 4th of February 2019 and nominations for branch positions should be received by the 20th of February 2019.Members requiring crèche facilities should contact the Branch Office no later than Monday, the 13th of February 2019. The crèche is only available to members who have made arrangements in advance. Any carers allowance must also be requested before the meeting.A good attendance at the Annual General Meeting is essential to the running of the Branch. We would be grateful if you could make every effort to attend, please encourage your colleagues as well to ensure that the Branch is able elect its officers and have structures in place to support our members.Full details of the agenda, motions, etc. will be placed on the branch website. Should you have any queries, please feel free to contact us. ...

The full offer from the Councils to the unions-COSLA is now proposing an offer which covers a three year period, from 1 April 2018 to 31 March 2021. If agreed the award for 2018 will be backdated to the 1 April 2018 application date. They key elements of the offer are: 2018/19 – an increase of 3.5 per cent for everyone earning up to £80,000 (for those earning above this a flat rate of £1600 will apply.) 2019/20 - an increase of 3 per cent. 2020/21 - an increase of 3 per cent. In each of these three years the Scottish Local Government Living Wage will rise by the percentage uplift referred to above. Full consolidation of the Living Wage, with Councils aiming to achieve this by March 2021. In exceptional circumstances, and where agreed with the Joint Trade Unions, an extension to this can be agreed, which will incorporate a firm commitment of a final implementation date for consolidation of 2022. Reaffirmation of COSLA’s policy statement on pay parity across the Local Government workforce. A commitment to re-open negotiations with the Joint Trade Unions in the event of another Local Government bargaining group’s total pay offer value being revised such that it becomes greater than the sum agreed between COSLA Employers and the SJC Trade Unions for the SJC workforce for the period of the agreement. ...